2013/06/16

2013 June 16

2013 June 16 sunny Sunday

Opened the door and walked to this wall. On Friday and Saturday I sorted out where the track was going, trimmed the ply and cut the supports. Not only did I have to keep the boards close to the string line, I needed to use the small level to maintain side to side level, and I could have put some camber on the curves, however I decided not to. And then today I was able to tie it all down. Let the pictures tell the story!

Actually the pictures is telling lies :) As the back track drops at 1.5% the near track is rising at 1.5% The 3% difference is what the picture shows ;)

At this end I finished up removing all existing track and ply base. I also decided to remove all the risers which were only nailed in position. I had put a temporary yard in, to hold trains in the early days. I did not remember iot was not screwed and glued. All good now!

Adjusting the risers and correcting the line.

All fixed and in great condition. I actually allowed the track to move into the space between the pillars. Wou;d have liked to have taken it in further, however my minimum 36" curves would not allow it, and still leave enough room for the Wangaratta platform.

Same place just adjusted the view

Ok here the SG arrives at the same level as the BG (See the gradient looks a lot better in this shot)
The wider baseboard is needed because the SG Loop starts here and as well the temporary escape will start to drop towards the back and the loop will maintain this height and run down the front of the board before crossing over the temp escape and entering Wodonga Station

The escape fixed into position.

Well at this stage I ran out of steam. I can lay track down here when I return from my trip to Queensland. Not sure how long I am going for at this stage. Depends on how well my repaired Rover runs, how much fuel I need and the weather, I guess. Would like to get to Townsville, but that is going to be expensive and I have Austrains G Class, Auscisions Walkers and the GM's to pay for as well as the Caulfield Exhibition :)

Anyway might get a few more days in, after returning from Bendigo on Wednesday.
Cheers
Rod

Beginnings (Blog starts here)

About my Railway

The Australian National Railways was established by the Whitlam Federal Government following a commitment made in the 1972 election to invite the states to hand over their railway systems to the federal government. In July 1975 Australian National Railways was formed taking over the operations of the federal government owned Commonwealth Railways.

The state governments of South Australia and Tasmania whose railway systems were deeply in debt, accepted. During the next two years discussions between these two states and the federal government resulted in a number of staffing and operating agreements being made that resulted in all South Australian Railways services (except for the Adelaide metropolitan passenger network) and all Tasmanian Government Railways services transferring to Australian National Railway in March 1978, the latter being re-branded AN Tasrail.

At first Victoria declined to hand over its Railways, however a change of Government after Bolte retired meant Victoria could be absorbed into AN as well. Despite doing everything they could to tarnish ALP leader Clyde Holding, The ALP were able to defeat Hamer who was seen to be just another Bolte, doing more of the same into the future.

Clyde Holding handed over Victorian Railways to the Commonwealth where it prospered as a division of AN retaining its VR colours until later when AN decided to re-brand it as V/Line.

My Railway thus reflects what could have been ;)And of course National Rail (Pacific National) has no place in my little scenario. Australian National was never privatised and has continually taken East Coast loads off the Highways. As well many branch lines were upgraded and Whitlam's policy of decentralisation actually moved employment to towns with a ready pool of workers, which of course took the pressure of Melbourne which was starting to expand as bush kids moved away from the Country in search of education and employment ( just as Gough Whitlam envisaged it would do)Rod Young

N452 (Background photo)

At Wodonga after being towed into loco following my Kelly Street Accident. A semi load of dog food ran the level crossing derailing the 1220 Down Pass

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Photographs

All photos are copyrighted to their respective owners.All can be clicked on to see bigger images :)